Slicing machine



Aug. 14, 1934. w. HoLzER Er AL sLIcING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1930 Y 4 Sheets-Sheetv l N NTM fAug'. 14, 1934.

' SLICING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIHHHHH NS. EN. SN

Aug 14, 1934- w. HQLZER Er AL v 1,970,379

SLICING MACHINE Filed May 22, 1930 4 sheets-sheet 5 Aug.14,1934. WHOLZER mL `1,910,319?

SLICING MACHINE Filed May 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Shet 4 f'TOR'A/EY Patented Aug. 14, 1934l SLICING MACHINE william Holzer and John Le'nreu, Jr., si. Louis, Mo., assgnors to Papendick, Inc., St. Louis, Mo.,- a corporation of Missouri Y Application May 22, 1930, Serial No. 454,547

7 Claims. (014146-153) This invention relates generally to slicing machines and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in machines adapted especially, though not exclusively, for the slicing of bread.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide for the high-speed slicing of loaves of bread fed approximately uniformly or evenly to reciprocating knives which are arranged to travel, as

0 it may be s aid,'with the loaf when substantially not effective for slicing purposes, whereby the tissue or texture of the loaf and its several slices is eiilciently retained and preserved.

Other objects of our invention are to generally improvethe construction of slicing machines, as will more particularly be pointed out asthe description proceeds.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and 4pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (four sheets)- `/Figure 1 is a plan view of a bread slicing machine embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional -view of `the machine taken approximately along the `line 3-3, 'Figure 1, -the opposite ends of the machine being broken away;

Figure vi is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the machine, showing lthe reciprocating knife-frames andi` associated 'pai-ts, other parts of the machine being broken away;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional View of the machine taken approximately along the line 5-5, Figure 3, the lower portin of the frame being omitted;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the machine taken 'approximately along the line 6--6, Figure 3, showing the driving mechanism;

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the upper part of the machine taken approximately along the line 7-'7, Figure 1;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of the upper part of the machine, taken approximately along the line 8 8, Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectionalview of the machine taken approximately along the line 9-9, Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a diagram showingthe position of the knife-actuating mechanism at the end of the 55 upstroke;

Figure 11 is a diagram similar to Figure 10, showing the position of the knife actuating mechanism at mid-stroke; i

Figure 12 is a fragmental partly sectional view illustrating a slightly 'modified arrangement of 00. t

the hold-down device, the rear end of the gripping belt being broken away, and other portions of the machine omitted; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary approximately halfplan view of the modified hold-down device of Figure 12, taken approximately along the line 13-13, Figure 12. L'

Referring now more in detail and by reference 'characters to the drawings, which illustrate a -movably supported from the floor 'on casters or rollers-3 for facilitating placement of the machine.

Tne-topreils 4 of the lfreine-sli support e. table 5, which forwardly overhangs the front legs 1 and is supported therefrom by a. pair of brackets 9 including horizontal marginal side angles 6 and inclined brace angles '7.

Fixed on a head-shaft ,8 suitably journaled for rotation in and between the frame top-rails 4 at the rear end of the table 5, is a headpulley 9, 35 and disposed in an aperture 10 in the front end of the table 5 and flxed on a shaft `11 journaled in suitable take-up bearings 12 adjustably mounted at the front end of the side-angles 6, is a tailpulley 13, between and around which pulleys 9, 13, is stretched or reeved an endless carrier or feeding-conveyerbelt 14, Whose upper run slidingly engages the upper face of the table 5. The loaves of bread B t'o be sliced are deposited along the from pero or the belt 14 for transportation 95 thereby to the cutting mechanism, presently described, and by means ofthe bearings 12, the belt 14 may readily be suitably tensioned, a tensioning idler 15. being also suitably journaled in bearings 1s adjustebly depending from an inter-mee` 100 diate point of the table 5.,

Presented forwardly from the frame-members A, is a pair of brackets 17 supporting a transverse guide-rod 18, and spaced rearwardly from the guide-rod 1a, is e threaded shaft 19 iourneled 105 in and also between the brackets 17, a second transverse threaded shaft 20 spaced forwardly from the head-shaft being also journaled in and between the frame-members A.

Each of the shafts 19, 20, has opposed series each respective shaft 19, 20, has threaded engagement with an arm 21 presented from respective pairs of inverted substantially U-shaped saddles 22 disposed at the opposite end portions of longitudinal struts each forming with its conjoined end members one of a pair of longitudinally extending transversely spaced lvconveyer carriages 23 arranged on opposite 'sides of the belt 14. Each saddle 22 is slidably mounted on one of the respective shafts 8 and 18 in such manner that, on suitable rotary actuation of the threaded shafts 19, 20, the carriages 23 may be laterally shifted, that is, simultaneously advanced toward or retracted from the belt 14. j

Each carriage 23 is provided at its opposite ends with an endwise opening laterally inwardly inclined- C-shaped yoke 24, whose lower leg is preferably a part of thesubjoined saddle 22. Each yoke 24 rotarily supports a pulley 25, and a-gripping-belt 26 is stretched or reeved over the opposite end pulleys 25 of each carriage 23, the'A inwardly facing runs of each belt 26 overhangmg the feeding-belt 14 at the rearward portion of its run for yielding gripping engagement therebetween of the respective loaves of bread B carried bythe feeding belt 14, as best seen in Figures 7 and 8. f l

The rear pulley 25 of each carriage 23 is preferably fixed on a shaft 28 journaled in the respective yoke 24 with its lower endv projecting between the depending legs of the saddle 22 and carrying a bevel gear 29, which meshes with a bevel gear 30 splined to the shaft 8 and backing against one of the depending legs of the saddle 22, as best seen in Figure 7. Actuation of the head shaft 8 for movement of the feeding belt 14 will accordingly actuate the pulley shafts 28 and thereby effect movement of the gripping belts 26 in a direction and at a speed corresponding to and co-operating in unison with the movement ofthe loaf-supporting or feeding belt 14.

To prevent slippage of the belts 26 on the pulleys 25, each pulley 25 is preferably provided with a circumferential series of radially presented pin-teeth 31, and each belt 26 is provided with a complementary series of pin-receiving apertures 32, thus providing for a positive drivingconnection betweenthe respective belts 26 and their supporting pulleys 25, and also providing means for retaining the belts 26 in alignment on the pulleys 25. Preferably each belt 26 is constructed of rubber, leather, or the like, and is faced on its loaf engaging side with an unbroken layer of canvas or like roughened material, as at 33, and spaced along the facing 33 approximately at distances corresponding to the width of a loaf are a series of transverse slots or bars 34, which serve to prevent slippage between the belts 26 and the loaves B gripped therebetween.

Contacting the back face of the loaf-engaging run of each belt 26 for substantially its length intermediate the pulleys 25, is a sag-preventing `backing-bar 36 supported by suitable securing .j means 37 from the'longitudinal strut of the carriage 23. y I

Journaled inand between bearings 38 depending from each of the frame top-members 4, is a shaft 39 provided at its opposite ends with conveniently accessible hand-wheels 40, whereby the shaft 39 beingalso provided intermediate the bearings 3a with a sprocket whee1 41. Additicna-l sprocket-wheels 42 are mounted on the shafts 19,

ing from the base 48.

of right and left-hand threads, at each of which 20, and a chain 43 is operatively passed over the sprocket wheels and 41 for simultaneous actuation of the shafts 19, 20, on rotation of the shaft 39, the chain 43 being preferably tensioned by an idler sprocket 44v adjustably supported on` the adjacent frame top-member 4. The head shaft 8 is driven by a suitable chain and sprocket arrangement 45 from a countershaft 46 journaled in suitable bearings 47 upstanding from a base-plate 48 supported on andv between the lower horizontal members 49 of the frame of the machine, and consequently, on actuation of the shaft 8,. the belt 14 and the belts 26 will be synchronously driven, as described.

The countershaft 46, in turn, is driven by a suitable chain and vsprocket arrangement 50 from a cam-shaft 5l journaled in bearings 52 upstand- The cam shaft 5l is geared, as at 53, to a jack-shaft 54 journaled in bearingsA 55 supported on thebase 48, the jackshaft 54 beingbelted, as at 56, to a suitable prime mover, as an electric-motor 57, supported on a bracket 58 forwardly presented from the. baseplate-48. l

'I'he cam shaft 51 'is disposed transversely the machine and at one end carries a ily wheel 59; and mounted on the shaft 51 between the bearings 52, is a'pair of cams 60, which preferably comprise oppositely disposed eccentric discs adapted to circumferentially engage respective rollers 6l intermediately carried by a pair of oscillatory levers 62, 63, each pivotally mounted at an end on respective bearings 64, 65, upstanding from the base 48.v Both bearings 64, 65, are disposed forwardly of the shaft 5l, thebearing 110 64, however,` being more forwardly presentedr than is the bearing 65, as best seen in Figure 2. The lever 62, pivoted to the bearing 64, is correspondingly longer than the lever 63, which latter is pivoted to the bearing 65.

The levers 62, 63, are adapted for oscillation at their respective free ends in the plane of reciprocation of respective confronting transverse reciprocatory knife-frames'66, 67, one frame, as 67, being forwardly in the machine from the 120 other .frame 66, the forward frame 67 carrying a depending arm 68 pivotally connected, as at 69, tothe free end of the shorter lever 63 and the rearward frame '66 carrying a like arm 68 having apvotal connection 69 with the longerlever 62. 125 Thus, with equal lift of the cams 60, the frames 66, 67, are alternately actuated in equal strokes.

Preferably the rollers 61 are rotarily mounted in yokes formed in the respective levers 62, 63, and to each yoke is also attached a clevis 70,130 which, in turn, is pivotally connected to an end of a floating lever 7l, whose other end is pivoted to a link rI2 pivotally depending from one end of a transverseframe member 73. Intermediate its ends, the frame-member 73'carries a swivel eye 135 74 rockably supporting a transverse semi-elliptic spring or tension member 75, whose opposite ends are pivotally shackled or link-connected, as at 76, each to an intermediate point of the respective v levers '71, as best seen in Figure 9. The spring 'l5 140 is initially tensioned to resilientlyy engage the rollers 61 with the cams 60, and as the one lever 62 is lifted when the other lever 63 drops, the rockable spring 75 oscillates .correspondingly without flexing, thus avoiding alternating stresses 145 tending to cause fatigue of the metal and possible fracturethereof.

Transversely supported by and between the rear frame members 2, is a shelf-angle 'lfl suitably apertured, as at 78, for reciprocatory movel150 ment therethrough of the arms 68, each army 68 being guidingly engaged transversely to the oscillating plane of the respective levers 62, 63, by opposed flat-faced rollers '79 rotarily supported on opposite sides of the arms 68 by boxes 80 mounted on the shelf 77, as best seen in Figures 5 and 6. Lateral shifting of the arms 68 is thus prevented; however, the arms 68.may ,shift forward and back on the faces of the rollers 79 correspondingly to the arcuate displacement of the ends of the levers 62,l 63.

From the kopposite sides, and adjacent the upper margin, of each frame 66, 67, is presented a pin 81, on which are pivotally mounted the forward end of respective links 82, whose respective rear ends are pivotally mounted on respective pins 83 suitably supported by and between the bifurcated ends of brackets or standards 84 disposed rearwardly of the'frames 66, 67, and upstanding from opposite sides of a delivery table 85, which preferably forms a continuation of the feed-table 5 and `is supported on a pair of .brackets 86 rearwardly presented from the respective frame-members A. The levers 62, 63, and the links 82,y are so mounted as to oscillate in like directions symmetrically about their fixed centers.

Each of the arms 68 forms a rigid unit with the respective frames 66, 67, which thus serve to connect the respective levers 62, 63, with their associated spaced links 82, whereby, onoscillation of the levers 62, 63, and links 82, the frames 66, 67, are as a whole vibrated or shifted alternately forward and back transversely to their reciprocating plane, such movement accruing by reason of the guiding action of the free ends of the levers 6263, and links 82 moving in their respective arcuate paths, whereby also the frames 66, 67, are caused to reciprocate in arcuate paths toward and from, or, as we may say, in a convex path relatively to, the forward or free-end of the machine and the loaves B to be sliced.

The opposing faces of the top and bottom memy bers of the respective frames 66, 67, are provided 'the respective blade or knife 90 whose lower end carries a transverse pin 91 adapted for engagement with the corresponding lower lug 88. The knives carried by the respective frames 66, 67, are thus arranged in pairs disposed in transverse alternate alignment and interttingly spaced in a common plane a distance equal to the slices to be cut, the several knives 90 having preferably a wave-like cutting edge presentedk forwardly for working engagement with the loaves B to be sliced fed by the conveyers 14 and 26.

The conveyers 14 and 26 move continuously in unison for feeding the loaves of bread B to and across the reciprocating plane of the slicing knives 90 at a uniform, even rate. As the knives 90 reciprocate, however, there is a period at the end of each stroke when the knives 90 are ineective 'knife actuating mechanism, by means lof which the knives 90 Aare withdrawn from the loaf at opposite ends of their stroke.

The travel of the knives 90 is diagrammed in the ating' lever 63, the conveyer 14 being shown 'in the act of feeding the loaves B to the cutting plane of the knives. It will be seen that the frame 67 is at the top of its stroke and hence in its most rearward position a. As the frame 67 reverses its stroke, the conjoint action of the lever 63 and link 82 causes the frame67- at mid-stroke to advance against the feed of the loaves B to the position b shown in Figure 11, while on completion of the down-stroke the frame is retracted with the feed of the loaves B substantially to the line a. On the up-stroke,` the operation is repeated. Thus twice during each` revolution of the actuating cam 60, the framev 67 moves its "'"carried knives 90 into the'advancing loaf B during the time when the endwise movement of the knives 90 is effective for slicing or cutting purposes, and during the time when the knives 90 have little or no endwise movement, theyarerapidlyretracted from the cut face of the loaf such a distance that, although the loaf is moving continuously toward the knives, the latter are substantially to the rear of and spaced away from the solid or uncut parts Aof the loaf a'greater distance than the loaf will the direction of feed, of the bread .to be sliced.

This applies also to the cutting action of the knives 90 carried by the oppositely reciprocating frame 66. The movement of each knife 90 provides an intermittent cutting action occurring substantially-at the middle portion of its stroke, and an alternate intermittent disengagement from the uncut bread, occurring substantially `at the ends of its stroke, such latter movement being at greater speed than the feed of the loaf, and the driving mechanism of the machine being arranged suitably for this purpose.

It will be seen that one frame 66 movesfdown while the other frame 67 moves up, each adjacent pair of the oppositelyvmoving knives 90 cutting/.a slice of bread therebetween, from which it will be readily understood that the slices so cut are more or less free from the displacing eilect of the slicing operationgone side of each slice being-sub.- ject to a downward trend, while the other side of each rslice is subject to an upward trend, neutralizing the first trend.

For supporting the loaves of bread B during the reception therefrom of the loaves to be sliced.

Disposed over the ngers 92 is a hold-down device including a comb-like member 93 having a plurality ofresilient fingers 94 each extending forwardly between the knives 90 and slightly upcurved at their forward ends f or yieldingly engaging the upper side of each loaf as it is fed through the knives 90. lLoaves of bread are not always uniformvin the contour o f their upper side, and in order that the comb 93 may yieldingly accommodate itself to the shape of the loaf as near as may be, the comb 93 is pivotally'connected at' each of its opposite ends to the respective depending legs of a pair of horizontal somewhat L-shaped arms 95 each pivotally mounted on a xed transverse shaft 96 supported at its opposite ends on pin blocks 97 each slidable on aan `up, 150

standing support or rod 98 mounted on the respective brackets 84. A thumb-screw 99 threaded in each block 97 impingingly engages the respective rods 98 for adjustably securing the blocksk 97 thereon.

Thumb-screws 100 are each threaded through a lug 101 rearwardly and laterally presented from the vrespective blocks 97 for impinging a rear- 'or holding-down the comb 93 on a loaf of bread thereunder, in such manner that the comb 93 may rock transversely on the arms 95 to accommodate loaves having one side higher than the other and may yield or bias upwardly as a whole to suit the different sizes of loaves being sliced. Preferably the comb-frame v93 at its rear edge ls curved upwardly to facilitate the free e'xit of the sliced loaf thereunder. -In such discharge movement, the sliced loaf of bread is laterally retained in its pre-sliced shape and contour by a pair of upstanding retaining walls 104 adjustably mounted on the delivery table and provided with forwardly extending resilient wings 104 for yieldingly engaging the opposite ends of the sliced loaf o bread emerging from the slicing knives. Preferably the walls 104 are of less` heighth than the loaf of bread in order that the upper portion thereof may be exposed for suitable manipulation in removing the loaf from the slicing machine.

On each side of the forward or loading portion of the ,feeding belt 11, is a pair of loaf guiding-walls ,105, 106. `The wall 105 is relatively short and is supported on a bracket 107 presented forwardly from one of the carriages 23, preferably'asa continuation of the' upper member of the yoke 24. The other wall 106 extends forwardly substantially to the end of the belt 11 and .is supported at its rear end by another bracket 107 supported from the other carriage 423. At its forward end, the wall 106is supported on a footpiece 108 adjustably mounted on the feed-table 5. Thus, as the' belts 26 are laterally shifted to accommodate the endwise dimensions of the loaves to be sliced, the walls 105, 106, are corresporidingly also shifted. The wall 105 is of reduced length relatively to the wall 106 in order that the loaves of bread may lbe slid from a tray laterally onto the belt 11 guidingly against the long wall 106, the loaves being guided by the walls 105, 106, as they enter between the belts 26.

A debris receptable 109 -is removably supported on a pair of brackets 110 forwardly extending from the respective frame-members 1. The receptacle 109 is. tensionally held at its opposite ends on the respective brackets 110 by a spring 111 having one end'engaging the box and the other end engaging the adjacent bracket, the receptacle 109 being adapted to catch and receive crumbs and like debris that may fall from the belt 14 and the belt 26, particularly the latter.

Another debris receptacle 1.12 is mounted transversely the rear of the machine and supported on the base plate 48 and also byv the shelf angle 77, the receptacle 112 having a drawer 113 for removing the debris caught therein which may fall 'from the slicing knives 90.

the movement of the loaf, and including a comblike member 93 having a plurality of resilient fingers 94 eachextending rearwardly between the knives 90. The comb 93' is upturned at its forward longitudinal edge 114 for yieldingly engaging the upper side of the loaves respectively advanced thereunder for slicing purposes, and the fingers 94 are slightly upturned at their rear ends for facilitating the discharge of the sliced loaf.

The comb 93' is preferably cut-out at its forward corners to accommodate the rear ends of the shiftable gripping belts 26, in order that the forward edge 114 may be disposed for engaging th'e loaves of bread before the same leave the gripping belts 26. The comb 93' at each end is pivotally connected to the respective depending legs of a pair of horizontal arms which are each bent around between and to clear the frame 67 and the rear ends of the respective belts 26, and thence forwardly, where each arm 95 is pivotally mounted on a fixed transverse shaft 96 supported over the belts 26 and at its opposite ends on pin-blocks 97 each slidable on a support or rod 98 upstandingl from a side-member 4, A thumb-screw 99' threaded in each block 97' impingingly engages the respective rods 98' for adjustably securing the blocks 97 thereon. Thumb-screws are each threaded through a lug 101 forwardly and laterally presented from the respective blocks 97' for impinging a forward extension 102' of each arm 95' to adjust the normal spacing of the comb 93 vertically from the feed-table 85. A pair of springs 103' is mounted on the shaft 96 each having one end fixed to the shaft and the other end fixed tothe respective arms 95 for yieldingly pressing or holding-down the comb 93' on a loaf of bread thereunder. in such manner that the comb 93' .may rock transversely on the arms 95 to' accommodate loaves having one side higher than the other and may yield upwardly as a whole to suit the different sizes of loaves being sliced. It will be seen that the arms 95' are pivoted forwardly of the point of engagement of the comb 93. with the loaf to be or being sliced,` hence the comb 93 yields with the movement of the loaf with a minimum opposition thereto.

The use and operation of the several instruhold-down device, whereby irregularly-shaped loaves may be sliced with the greatest facility, and we might add that the other several features of the machine from time to time pointed out in the description have, in practice, proven to-be of highly practical utility in the slicing of bread-loaves. i

It will be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the machine may be made and'substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principlev of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bread-loaf slicing machine, a standard,

va reciprocatory knife-frame, a pair of oscillatory links pivotally connected tothe standard and to the opposite sides of the upper end of the frame, an arm rigidly depending from the frame, means including an oscillatory lever pivotally connected to the arm for reciprocating the frame, and means including a pair of opposed members supported on the standard and engaging said arm for guiding the frame in its reciprocations.

2. In a bread-loaf slicing machine, a reciprocatory series of cutting-blades, means for reciproeating the blades, said means including an oscillatory lever and a cam for oscillating the lever, and means for yieldingly pressing the lever in operative engagement with its actuating cam.

3. In a bread-loaf slicing machine, in combination, reciprocatory series of interfitting cuttingblades, means including a pair of cam-actuated oscillatory levers for oppositely actuating said series of blades, and means including a rockably supported tensional member having its opposite ends operatively connected with said levers and oscillatory' therewith for resiliently retaining the levers in operative engagement with their actuating cams.

4. In a bread loaf slicing machine, in combina--I tion, reciprocatory series of slicing-blades, means including a pair of cam-actuated oscillatory levers for actuating said series of blades, a .rockable tensional member, fand means including a pair of floating levers each connected at an end to a respective oscillatory lever and at an` intermediate point to one of the opposite ends of said tensional member for resiliently engaging said oscillatory levers with their actuating cams.

5. A bread-loaf slicing-machine including in combination, a support, a feed-table on the support, a pair of rigid confronting framesyseries t of cutting blades interttingly mounted in the frames, links having pivot-connection with the support and with the respective frames for pivotally suspending and guiding the frames for movement thereof on the support transversely of the feed-table, levers having pivot connection with Athe support and with the respective frames, rollers on the levers, and mechanism including opposed cams for engaging said rollers for oscillating the levers for oppositely reciprocating the frames and their carried knives arcwise transversely to the feed-table.

6. A bread-loaf slicing-machine including, in combination, a support, a feed-table on the support, a pair of rigid confronting frames, series of cutting blades interttingly mounted in the frames, links having pivot-connection with the support and with the respective frames for pivotally suspending and guiding the f rames for movement thereof on the support transversely ofthe feed-table, levers having pivot-connection with the support and with the respective frames, rollers on the levers, and mechanism including opposed cams for engaging said rollers for oscillating the levers for oppositely reciprocating -the frames andtheir carried knives arcwise transversely of the feed-table, said levers havingpivotconnection with the support for equal stroke of the frames on equal lift of the cams andthe axes of the knives being offset from the pivotal axes of the frames.

7. In a bread-loaf slicing machine, a standard, a knife-iframe, a pair of oscillatory links pivotally connected to the` standard and to the opposite `side of the vupper end-portion of the frame, an

arm rigidly depending from the frame, means including an oscillatory lever pivotally connected to the arm for reciprocating the frame, and opposed 'rollers mounted for rotation on the standard and engaging said arm for guiding the frame in its reciprocations.

WILLIAM HOLZER.

JOHN LE BRELL. Jn.' 115 

